Stimulus package blamed for rise in drunken violence

The Federal Government's economic stimulus package is being blamed for a significant spike in alcohol-fuelled violence in Halls Creek.

Officers in the Kimberley town are reporting a particular increase in domestic assaults and disorderly conduct since the family tax payments were made a week ago.

Sergeant Jason Van Derende says officers are having to take it day-by-day until the money runs out.

"Since the recent payments from the Federal Government, Halls Creek's experienced an increase in the calls for police assistance and there's been a noticeable increase in the number of arrests," he said.

"The majority of these are alcohol-related offences - people have got a fair amount of cash in the town at the moment and we don't know how long that's going to last for."

The town is under increased scrutiny as it waits for the director of liquor licensing to decide whether to impose severe liquor restrictions such as those in Fitzroy Crossing.